Angela Rayner confirmed as Shadow Levelling Up Secretary

       Sir Keir Starmer has carried out a major reshuffle of his shadow cabinet, going much further than Rishi Sunak’s set of small changes last week.

       He has appointed Deputy Labour leader Angela Rayner shadow secretary of state for levelling up as the Labour leader forms his final Shadow Cabinet team ahead of the General Election next year.

       This means that Wigan MP Lisa Nandy, who previously held that position, has been demoted to minister for international development.

       A Labour source said: "Keir is delighted that Angela has accepted this important role - in addition she will continue to be the strategic lead on Labour's new deal for working people."

       Sir Keir’s previous reshuffles have involved making concessions to certain power brokers and factions within his party.

       Sir Keir Starmer has carried out a major reshuffle of his shadow cabinet, going much further than Rishi Sunak’s set of small changes last week.

       READ MORE: Starmer mocked with Sunak to ‘go early’ claim on next general election

       Ms Rayner could be facing a demotion today (Image: Getty)

       However, despite the official warm words the move for Ms Rayner could enrage the outspoken deputy.

       Another shadow cabinet member pointed out that Rayner "asked for a policy brief" but suggested she had hoped for something more senior like her former education portfolio.

       The senior Labour MP added of the reshuffle: "It was a score draw between the two of them."

       While Ms Rayner was elected to the deputy leadership by party members, and unmovable from that role, her shadow ministerial portfolio is dictated by Keir Starmer.

       Her current list of jobs, which were mercilessly mocked by the Tories after Sir Keir previously decided not to demote her, include Shadow First Secretary of State, Shadow Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Shadow Secretary of State for the Future of Work.

       While her new role as secretary of state for levelling up is a demotion from the Cabinet Office, Sir Keir is said to believe it would be a “natural fit” for her in Government.

       The Times previously reported it “would allow her to utilise her good relationships with regional politicians such as Andy Burnham, the mayor of Greater Manchester, and could also allow her to retain elements of her existing portfolio, for example constitutional reform”.

       However, despite the official warm words the move for Ms Rayner could enrage the outspoken deputy.

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       Sir Keir will carry out a wide-ranging reshuffle today (Image: Getty)

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       POLL: Is Keir Starmer right to demote Angela Rayner?

       Sir Keir’s deputy has often been frustrated with his past reshuffles, including not being briefed on when they are happening.

       In 2021 Ms Rayner was “blindsided” by a reshuffle, telling allies she’d been frustrated the news had overshadowed her keynote speech to the Institute for Government.

       This morning the Mail reports Keir Starmer is also under pressure from some in his top team to sack Ed Miliband as his energy spokesperson.

       A shadow cabinet member said it is time to “rid ourselves of the ghost of Ed Miliband”, not least as the Tories hope to use the environment as a wedge issue at the election.

       POLL: Is Keir Starmer right to demote Angela Rayner?

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       Top Labour MPs have demanded Ed Miliband be sacked (Image: Getty)

       Another said the Labour leader has been “listening to Ed too much”.

       Ex-Partygate inquisitor Sue Gray is also set to start her new job as Sir Keir’s Chief of Staff today, working on preparing Labour for Government.

       She had been barred from starting work for six months by the independent anti-sleaze body ACOBA, because of her top-level knowledge of sensitive Government information.

       Ms Gray will plan a big shake-up of the civil service, in order to ensure Labour can enact its desired policies once in Government.

       Another said the Labour leader has been “listening to Ed too much”.

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